KOCHI:The third edition of ‘Cochin Saga’, the book on development of Cochin port, written by Sir Robert Bristow, was released on Tuesday.
Critic M K Sanu handed over copies to writer N S Madhavan and Customs Commissioner Dr K N Raghavan, Commissioner of Customs, respectively at a function held at the Port conference hall.
Cochin Port traffic manager C Unnikrishnan financial adviser K G Nath spoke at the book releasing function chaired by Port Trust Chairman Paul Antony.
The ‘Cochin Saga’ was first published in 1959 and a second edition followed in 1967. Edited by C Unnikrishnan, the third edition has been brought out by Bristow Memorial Society after 48 years as copies were not available.
The book is much sought after as the author, an admiralty harbour engineer, consolidates a big canvas of subjects, including maritime history, geography, economy of the Port, social life and religion in addition to the minute details of the port modernisation project of two decades.
‘Cochin Saga’ is considered to be an authentic record of events during the period 1920-41, a period which witnessed milestone events such as breaking of the sand bar across Cochin gut, reclamations of the lake, formation of the island, creation of berths, making of the two land bridges (Venduruthy rail and road bridge and Thoppumpady bascule bridge) and building of Mattanchery wharf warehouses.
The book gives a first person account of the huge challenges faced by the author during development of the port.
The proceeds from the sale of the book is being used for developing Cochin Port Maritime Heritage Museum in the Port area which houses a large collection of pictures from the Bristow period on the various stages of work of Cochin Port construction. The book is priced at `300 and available at the Museum.